TAKE THE WHITE HOUSE BACK

72.8 MILLION DOLLARS!

At least five bidders competed for Mark Rothko’s White Center (Yellow, Pink and Lavender on Rose) from the collection of David Rockefeller, which sold for $72,800,000 to an anonymous buyer over the telephone to a wave of applause, setting a new record for a contemporary post war work of art at auction, as well as for the artist.
MARK ROTHKO


It was sold by 91-year-old David Rockefeller. That bought it for $8,500.00 in 1960.

The painting used to hang in his office when he was chairman of Chase Manhattan Bank from 1961 to 1981.

Friedrich Nietzsche's great book The Birth of Tragedy had a profound effect on Rothko. Nietzsche's idea that the artist has the power to transform tragedy into beauty is very close to Rothko's central truth and the primary reason for the exceptional grace in his work. His anxiety and paranoia about his work was intense. He felt himself in competition with every other artist, alive and dead. Rothko seems to have become increasingly unsure whether his paintings truly had the effect on viewers for which he hoped. From the late Fifties, Rothko's work grew darker. "I curse God daily," he confessed, "because men are born to die."

In 1964 Rothko received in many ways the perfect commission from John and Dominique de Menil, a pair of enlightened patrons from Houston, Texas. It was to produce a series of paintings for a chapel, a meditative, sacred space effectively dedicated to the mystery of his own work.

In 1967 he completed the paintings for The Rothko Chapel.

In the spring of 1968, Rothko suffered an aneurysm of the aorta, a result of his chronic high blood pressure. Ignoring doctor’s orders, Rothko continued to drink and smoke heavily, avoid exercise and to maintain an unhealthy diet. However, he followed the advice not to paint pictures larger than a yard in height and turned his attention to smaller formats, including acrylics on paper. Rothko and his wife Mell separated on New Year’s Day 1969, and he moved into his studio.
On February 25, 1970, Oliver Steindecker, Rothko’s assistant, found the artist in his kitchen, lying dead on the floor in front of the sink, covered in blood. His arms had been sliced open with a razor lying at his side. During autopsy it was discovered he had also overdosed on anti-depressants. He was 66 years old.

MURAL

Still searching for the perfect image for one client. Won't stop until we find he perfect one.

Machine, Man, Monster

The solo show of JIMBOT

Art Whino presents JIMBOT: Machine, Man, Monster. The exhibition will feature the illustrative and playful works of JIMBOT, Milwaukee based painter and freelance illustrator. His exhibition will feature several paintings and prints of the imaginative creatures and stories that inhabit his mind.



Friday October 24th 7-11pm

Preview Event and Panel Discussion at the Art Whino Loft, located at the Adidas store in Georgetown

Location:
1251 Wisconsin Ave NW
Washington, DC 20007

A sampling of Jimbot’s exhibition will be on exhibit as well as select pieces from the Art Whino’s extensive artist collaboration.

PANEL DISCUSSION
As a part of Americans for the Arts Creative Conversations initiative, Art Whino will be hosting a panel discussion on the validity of current art trends within the larger realm of fine art. Panelists will debate whether or not Lowbrow and Pop Surrealist art carry the same amount of cultural significance and demand the same respect as more traditional forms of contemporary art. Come check out our new space in Georgetown, above the Adidas store and take part in this lively conversation.

Wine Tasting
An informational wine tasting will be provided by WineShop at Home
for guests prior to the panel discussion. Join us to sample and learn about some excellent selections from the Napa Valley area.

DJ Stylo on the Turntables!

This event is FREE and open to the public.

TINY Houses

I have been obsessed with these tiny homes since i saw Jay Shafer on the local news. Since 1997 he has been living in a house smaller than some people’s closets.

"Our society's been based on excess for so long, it's still a somewhat novel idea to live simply,"
TinyHouse.net
Tiny House Blog
Tiny Homes in Texas

Tumbelweed Tiny House Company
Hooked On Houses

HAPPY OCTOBER!

Tonight some friends came over and we carved pumpkins.

UNJUANTED's pumpkin.

OWEL's pumpkin.

New commission.

NINJA DEEKS

NINJA DEEKS finally becomes a reality at THE FRIDGE.


Soon to have NEW large paintings! Here are some sketches for a new series, Heavily Tattooed People.

My drummer, Travis Barker

Betty Broadbent

Monday, monday, monday

DC based comedian Elizabeth Croydon, wearing a DECOY tie during her performance Sat. night at the DCAC. Super Cute!

Me and my peep Kelly at the Shepard Fairey show Sat. night.

Tonight's the night!

PLEASE check out all the experiences Philippa Hughes has been able to have this week admiring Shepard Fairey and his art work.

TOMORROW NIGHT

Regime Change Starts at Home

Shepard Fairey, Al Farrow, and Paul D. Miller (DJ Spooky)
October 18 - December 6, 2008
Opening Reception: Saturday, October 18, 6-8PM

Shepard Fairey, Rose Girl, 2008. Limited edition screenprint. 24 x 18 in.
Available only at Irvine Contemporary for the exhibition.

I MEAN...WHO WOULD MISS IT?

Journal vs. Blog

A friend recently forwarded me information about a reporter looking for the difference between journals and blogs. She wanted to see some examples of a journal entry vs. blog entry.

She asked
If you have tried both, which medium to you prefer (blog/journal)
and why?
Does the community aspect of having a blog bring you to blog more
often, or does it encourage you to write less than you would in a
scrapbook?

This led me to stacks of old journals I've kept through out the years.

These journal pages come from the journal I kept the year I studied in Italy.

I love keeping long distance journals with old friends and family. We buy one blank book, journal in it a while, mail it on and wait to get it back.

What do you think? Journal vs. Blog?

BIRTHDAYS=FUN

Growing up, my Aunt Lisa always had an amazing music collection. When ever we visited my grandma, with whom she lived with, my brother and I would sneak into her room, play music and act out the songs. One of our favorites was Bang Bang sung by Sunny and Cher. Here in Nancy Sinatra singing Bang Bang, made famous from the Kill Bill movies.

Shepard Fairy= heART

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Final Tattoo Design

NEW COMMISSION

My latest commission was a tattoo design for a mans calf. He wanted a portrait of his parents. I put them in a horse shoe so they can continue to bring him good luck from up above.

Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston

Frank and Ollie are two of the original Disney animators.

If you can, I would rent this movie right away! It's about two men who met while they were at Stanford University, moved together down to California during the Great Depression, got jobs at the same company, moved into neighboring houses and stayed best friends for over sixty years.

Two of Walt Disney's legendary "Nine Old Men," who literally wrote the book on 20th Century animation.

R. CRUMB

Robert Crumb, American American artist and illustrator, was a founder of the underground comix movement and is regarded as its most prominent figure. Though one of the most celebrated of comic book artists, Crumb's entire career has unfolded outside the mainstream comic book publishing industry. One of his most recognized works is the "Keep on Truckin'" comic, which became a widely distributed fixture of pop culture in the 1970s. Others are the characters Devil Girl, Fritz the Cat, and Mr. Natural.
GET THIS,
In the mid-1990s Crumb traded six of his sketchbooks for a townhouse in a small village in the South of France.

Crumb’s friend, Terry Zwigoff, filmed Robert and his family before they moved for the documentary “Crumb”.

Can A Sista Rock A Mic?

DECOY's art at CASRAM this year.

I went camping, while my other friends went to NYC.

And what do you know, they run into one of my heroes, Perker Posey. Taxi Gang seen here with Parker.
I would rent everyone of these movies if you haven't yet sen them.
Dazed and Confused
Party Girl
Kicking and Screaming
Basquiat
The House of Yes
Waiting for Guffman
Clockwatchers
Best in Show
Scream 3

Parker Posey- Smoking in the girls room.

"Do they have paintings in Pensylvania"

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

La Familia

Poster was part of the gift. Zach will walk him by it on their anniversary date tonight.

I'm Yours

BBQ

RATON and DECOY send their LOVE to the BBQ in progress.

It's at my dear friends house, Swaffee. Wish we were there.

Painting update

Baby Squirrel

OWEL and i rescued a baby squirrel the other day. We didn't get a photo of it, but OWEL did sketch this drawing of him. We named him Pikachu.


People I thought about today-
Georgia okeeffe
Picasso
Vincent Van Gogh and his suicide note that read "the sadness will last forever".

NEW COMMISSION LEAVING TOMORROW

My latest commission leaves my house tomorrow. This painting has been so much fun working on and having in my house.

This project was also fun because it involves a painting and a poster! Poster above, soon to be up.

La Familia-PINK in progress.

The first La Familia- BLUE